Do not take Valpro if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:

liver disease (hepatic dysfunction) or severe hepatitis

a urea cycle disorder or a family history of urea cycle disorders

a family history of hepatitis, especially when caused by medicines. Medicines used in the treatment of epilepsy, including Valpro may have adverse effects on the liver and the kidneys

a family history of unexplained infant deaths

porphyria, which is a rare blood disease of blood pigments

known ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency or a family history of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering. If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.

Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions, especially the following:

Your doctor may want to take special care if you have any of these conditions.

If you are a female patient of child-bearing age, make sure that you talk to your doctor about the risks associated with taking Valpro during pregnancy.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Like most medicines of this kind, Valpro may affect your developing baby if taken in the first trimester of pregnancy, as it is suspected of causing an increased risk of malformations in the exposed foetus. Also, children born to mothers who take Valpro throughout their pregnancy may be at risk of impaired cognitive development or withdrawal syndrome. However, do not stop taking Valpro unless your doctor says so as there are risks to the mother and child from uncontrolled epilepsy or uncontrolled mania episodes.

oral contraceptives. Valpro should have little effect on the oral contraceptive pill, however, you should let your doctor know that you are taking it

zidovudine (a medicine used to treat viral infections)

neuroleptic agents including clozapine (a medicine used to treat schizophrenia)

quetiapine (a medicine used to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia)

mefloquine (a medicine used to treat malaria)

cimetidine (used to treat stomach ulcers)

erythromycin, rifampicin and carbapenem antibiotics such as Invanz and Merrem.

These medicines and others may be affected by Valpro or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if your child is taking any other medicines before you start giving them Valpro, for example, aspirin or any other drugs used to treat epilepsy. Children, especially young children, can be more sensitive to some of the side effects of Valpro.

If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Valpro.

How to take Valpro

How much to take

Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you need to take each day. This may depend on your age, your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines.

Your doctor may recommend that you start with a low dose of Valpro and slowly increase the dose to the lowest amount needed to control your condition.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure of the correct dose for you. They will tell you exactly how much to take.

Follow the instructions they give you. If you take the wrong dose, Valpro may not work as well.

How to take it

Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water. Do not take them with 'fizzy' water, soda or soft drinks.

Do not crush or chew the tablets. Valpro tablets have a special coating. If you crush or chew the tablets, they will not work as well.

When to take it

Your doctor will advise you when to take Valpro. Always follow your doctor's instructions.

Take Valpro with or immediately after food. This will lessen the chance of a stomach upset.

Take Valpro at about the same time each day. This will have the best effect and also help you remember when to take it.

If you are not sure when to take it, ask your doctor.

If you forget to take it

Always remember to take your prescribed dose otherwise you may find that either your seizures or manic symptoms may return.

If you forget a dose, take your next dose as usual.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed. This may increase the chance of you getting unwanted side effects.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

How long to take it for

Keep taking Valpro for as long as your doctor recommends. Valpro helps control your condition but does not cure it. To properly control your condition Valpro must be taken every day.

If you take too much (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Valpro.

Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

If you take too much Valpro, you may feel dizzy, drowsy or have cramps in the abdomen.

While you are taking Valpro

Things you must do

If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Valpro.

Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Valpro.

If you become pregnant while taking Valpro, tell your doctor immediately.

Tell your doctor immediately if you have any suicidal thoughts or other mental/mood changes. Valpro may cause suicidal thoughts or actions in a very small number of people, about 1 in 500.

Patients and caregivers should be alert and monitor for these effects.

If you or someone you know is showing any of the following warning signs of suicide while taking Valpro, contact your doctor or a mental health professional right away or go to the nearest hospital for treatment:

thoughts or talk of death or suicide

thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others

any recent attempts of self-harm

increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability, or any other unusual changes in behaviour or mood.

All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.

If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Valpro.

Be sure to keep all your doctors' appointments so that they can check on your progress. Your doctor will check your progress and may want to take some tests from time to time. This helps prevent unwanted side effects.

Things you must not do

Do not take more than the recommended dose unless your doctor tell you to.

Do not use Valpro to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not give Valpro to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not stop taking Valpro, or lower the dosage, without checking with your doctor.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Valpro affects you. Valpro may cause drowsiness or light-headedness in some people, especially at the beginning of treatment. Make sure you know how you react to it before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are drowsy or lightheaded.

Children should not ride a bike, climb trees or do anything else that could be dangerous if they are feeling drowsy or sleepy. Valpro may cause drowsiness, dizziness or sleepiness in some people and affect alertness.

The effects of alcohol could be made worse while taking Valpro. Combining Valpro and alcohol can make you more drowsy, dizzy or lightheaded. Your doctor may suggest you avoid alcohol while you are being treated with Valpro.

What do I need to consider about contraception?

Use an effective method of contraception and consult your doctor before planning pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancy may not be desirable in patients receiving medicines for epilepsy or mania. You should use an effective method of contraception and consult your doctor before planning pregnancy; for example, your doctor may want you to start taking folate tablets.

Valpro should have little effect on the oral contraceptive pill, however, you should let your doctor know that you are taking it.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Valpro. Valpro helps most people with epilepsy and mania, but it may have unwanted side effects in some people.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. Your doctor or pharmacist has weighed the risks of using this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.

You may not experience any of them.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

nausea or vomiting

bleeding, tender or enlarged gums

abdominal cramps or pain

changes in appetite

changes in your weight

irregular menstrual periods

diarrhoea

headache

unusual movements, including tremor and shaking

rapid uncontrollable movements of the eye

unsteadiness when walking, dizziness or light-headedness

depression

hair loss

feeling tired or drowsy

memory impairment

confusion

hallucinations

disturbance in attention

changes in behaviour including aggression and agitation.

These are the more common side effects of Valpro. Mostly these are mild and short-lived.

Tell your doctor immediately or go to the Accident and Emergency Department of your nearest hospital if you have any thoughts of harming yourself or committing suicide.

Tell your doctor immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:

more frequent or more severe seizures (fits)

blood clotting problems

spontaneous bruising or bleeding

rashes

signs of liver problems such as vomiting, loss of appetite, generally feeling unwell, tiredness, yellowing of the skin and/or eyes, dark urine or blood in urine, pain in the abdomen

swelling of the feet and legs, weight increase due to fluid build up

fainting

bizarre behaviour

suicidal thoughts

suicide attempts

severe upper stomach pain, often with nausea and vomiting.

These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients.

Some of these side effects can only be found when your doctor does tests from time to time to check your progress.

20 Jul2016 –
Information on medicines available in Australia containing sodium valproate (medicines for psychotic conditions), including our latest evidence-based information and resources for health professionals and consumers. Sodium valproate (medicines for psychotic conditions) is also known as valproate sodium (medicines for psychotic conditions). The active ingredient is the chemical in a medicine that makes it work. Medicines that contain the same active ingredient can be available under more than one brand name. Brands include both active ingredients and inactive ingredients. You'll find information about brands of medicines that contain sodium valproate (medicines for psychotic conditions) below, including their consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflets.

02 Nov2012 –
Find reliable, independent information about partial epilepsy. You’ll find resources for consumers and health professionals about this health condition and any related treatments, medicines and medical tests.partial epilepsy is also known as focal seizures.

02 Nov2012 –
Find reliable, independent information about epilepsy. You’ll find resources for consumers and health professionals about this health condition and any related treatments, medicines and medical tests.epilepsy is also known as epilepsy, generalised and fits.

02 Nov2012 –
Find reliable, independent information about seizures. You’ll find resources for consumers and health professionals about this health condition and any related treatments, medicines and medical tests.seizures is also known as convulsion and fit.

02 Nov2012 –
Find reliable, independent information about mania. You’ll find resources for consumers and health professionals about this health condition and any related treatments, medicines and medical tests.mania is also known as manic disorder.

02 Nov2012 –
Find reliable, independent information about excess growth. You’ll find resources for consumers and health professionals about this health condition and any related treatments, medicines and medical tests.excess growth is also known as acromegaly.

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What is a consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet?

A consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet tells you about the side effects of a particular medicine, what it is used for and how to use it, and is written according to Australian government standards.

Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice and should not be exclusively relied on to manage or diagnose a medical condition. NPS MedicineWise disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.